Keyboard-locking mechanism for adding-machines.



J. P; HUNTER & H. ,KI I NTZLER. KEYBOARD LOOKING MECHANISM FOR ADDING MACHINES.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909. 1,074,721

Patented 001;. '7, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attest: m a lnventors r M7 //I b r M Att.

J. P. HUNTER & H. KtfNTzLER.

KEYBOARD LOOKING MECHANISM FOR ADDING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

1,074,721, Patented 00117, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

"J. P. HUNTER & H. KIINTZLBR.

KEYBOARD LOOKING MECHANISM FOR ADDING MACHINES. 4

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23 1909.

1,074,721 Patented Oct. '7, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3v Attest: Z flhventms I I v by flzzm MW {KM Artjv.

J. P. HUNTER & H. KUNTZLER.

KEYBOARD LOOKING MECHANISM FOR ADDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

1,074,721. Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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. having the same general features.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND.M ESNE ASSIGNHENTS,.TO.ADDER MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

KEYBOARD-LOCKING MECHANISM FORAQDDINGvMAOHINES.

Specification of IlLetcersl 'atent. I Patentedoct, 7, 1913.

Application filed March 23, 1909. Serial No. 485,240.

To all whom 1' t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN P. HUNTER and HENRY KtiN'rzLER, citizens of the United States, and residents of lVilkes-Barre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyboard-Locking Mechanisms for Adding- Mach-ines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a keyboarddock- I ing mechanism for adding machines and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out. g

It is particularly applicable to the keyboard s 'stem of the \Vales adding machine but is a so applicable to similar mechaRisms s is well known, the Vales machine is supplied with what is termed technically a flexible key board, as is described in Letters Patent of the United States, issued December 17, 1907, Serial No. 847,107. That is, the key system is so constructed that when a key in any denominational series is depressed in the enumeration of an item, and itis seen that the item is incorrect and another key should have been depressed in the same series, then merely by depressing such othercorrect key it remains depressed and the -in' correct key originally depressed is automatically restored to its original position.-

The purpose of this invention is to pro vide means whereby, as soon asthe handle of the machine is pulled, or the main shaft otherwise oscillated, then all of the keys are at once automatically locked and remain locked until on return stroke of the handle they are automatically unlocked to permit the keys to be depressed in the enumeration of another item.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side'levation of the front portion of an adding machine embodying the invention the keys and connected parts being shown in normal position; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation and partial vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the actuating lever; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine on the side opposite that'shown in Fig, 1, the parts being in normal position; Fig. 5is a perspective detail of a key stop Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the common locking plate; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of theseries of key steps, common locking plate and connected parts and a horizontal section through the front plate 22; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the position of the parts when the return stroke of the handle has been nearl completed.

. In the drawings, 1 is t e base of the machine and 2, 2, are side-frames adapted to support the mechanism above the base.

3, 3, are the side plates of the keyboard section which supports a ke plate 4 and which are suspended in the side frame 2 of the machine by any suitable means, as two transverse shafts passing through the key board side plates and having their bearings 'in the side frames 2.

The numeral key system comprises a bank of keys 5 arranged in denominational series. Each key has a depending stem 6 provided with a retracting spring 7 and is adapted to actuate a lever 8 and through it a vertically reciprocating stop 9. These stops are lifted up by the depression of their keys and lowered by the elevation of the same keys and they are interposed in the paths of reciprocating control members which govern thereby the extent of-rotation of the numeral wheels and which are not shown, because they form no part of the present invention.

A frame 10 is supported upon the side plates 3 and is arranged at the rear of the key system and below the Level of the plate 4 It consists of a horizontal plate 11 pro.- vided with apertures 12 arranged in series to receive the stops 9 and guide them in their movement. It is provided with two vertical flanges .13 and 14, one on each side of the plate 11, and with a depending fiange 15 apertured to provide bearings for the pintles 16 of broad pawls 17, which latter are nine in number, one for each denominational series. mally pressed against the stops 9 above cam lugs or lobes 18 with which each stop is provided, by means of springs 19, the other ends of which springs are secured to rods 20 rigidly mounted in the frame 10, and which rods also serve to hold the parts of the frame together. The lobes 18 are all of the same height arranged in a horizontal line and each broad pawl 17 presses against all=of These broad pawls are northe stops of its series, just above the lobes, when the keys are undepressed. Each pawl 17 is provided with a tripping ear 21 extending outside of the frame. The frame is also provided with a depending front plate 22 adapted to support a portion of the mechanism hereinafter described.

It is obvious that when the key stems are undepressed any one of the stops 9 may be elevated to pass the latch or pawl 17 of its particular denominational series, because this latch or pawl will yield against the tension of its spring for that purpose, but after such stop has acquired its-new position with its lobe- 18 above the broad pawl 17 then such stop cannot be dropped and restored to its original position unless the latch or broad pawl 17 is moved from beneath this lobe by somewhat positive means. Such means is found in the shaft 23 which is provided at suitable intervals, correspoiiding to the positions of the several broad pawls, and directly under their respective tripping ears 21, with pins 2 1 which are adapted to engage such tripping ears to move the broad pawls 17 when the shaft is rocked or oscillated.

It will readily be understood from the above description that if any key in any series has been depressed, then by depressing another key in the same denominational series, it will at once and automatically restore the first key depressed to its original position, because depressing any key of a series will raise its corresponding stop 9 which, acting through its lobe 18, moves its a broad pawl 17, common to all of the stops of that series, and as soon as this pawlhas been moved away from the series of stops,-

any stop which has been elevated by the depression of its particular key is at once retracted downward under the influence of its spring 7. Thus the key board may be said to be flexible or self-correcting, because depressing any key in any denominational series at once and automatically restores any other key in the same series which has previously been depressed to its original position.

The means for rocking the shaft 23 to restore the depressedkeys to their original positions comprises in the normal operation of the machine the following parts. A

crank 25 is secured to the shaft 23 at one end and at its other end is pivoted to an oscillat: ing link 26, the lower end of which is provided with an 'aperture 27 and is thus adapted loosely to rest upon a pin 28 projecting inwardly from the frame of the machine. The link 26 is provided with an ear 29 adapted on its side 30 to engage a roller 31 secured to and projecting inwardly from the side of the crank 32 which in turn is secured to and mounted upon the main shaft 33 of the machine and which main shaft is supported to oscillate in bearings and is actuated by a handle (not shown) or other suitable means.

When the main shaft is oscillated toward 4 edge 34 and engaging this link idly to move up and down during the first part of the oscillation of the main shaft. During the latter part of the reverse oscillation'of the main shaft the roller 31 engages the surface 30 of the ear 29 of the link 26 (as shown in Fig. 8) and moves the link rearwardly and through the crank 25, oscillates the shaft 23 and lifts its pins 24 to move the broad pawls 17 and thus permit all of the stops 9 to be restored to their respective positions under the influence of their springs 7. The link 26 is restored to its original position by gravity assisted by a spring 35 secured to the crank 25 and to a convenient place on the frame 108 (see Figs. 4: and 8.).

It will thus be seen that in the usual operation of the machine all of the numeral keys which have been depressed to enumerate an item will be automatically restored to their original undepressed positions by the actuation of the main shaft through the mechanism just described.

None of the parts above described constitute any part of the present invention.

It is obviously desirable to lock the keyshould be released from the operation of the locking Inechanism'in time to permit the .link 26. to be oscillated in order to restore them to their original positions so that .a new item may be enumerated on the key board just as soon as the return oscillation of the main shaft has been accomplished. The purpose of the present invention is to supply a simple means for accomplishing these functions automatically.

A common locking plate 40 provided at one end with a cam surface d1 and along its front edge withan ear 42 and having a sen es-of transverse slots43 corresponding in position and number with the diderentdenominationalseries ofstops 9 (see Fig. 6)

is mounted to slide transversely of the machine on supporting pins 44 secured to the flanges 14 and 15 of the frame 10. In the ear 42 is an aperture 45 adapted to be enengage the upper elbow 48 of an actuating lever 49 which in turn is secured to a pivot secured thereto .by a screw 71, or other- 50'on the flange 22 by means of a hole 51 in the lever. The other end of the actuating lever 49 has a downwardly projecting elbow 52 provided with a slot 53 by means of which it is secured to a link 54 by which it is moved so'that the movement of the link transmitted through the lever 49, will cause the locking plate 40 to slide transversely of the machine in one direction. The link 54 consists of two pieces: an upper .piece 55 having a hook 56 and adapted to engage the slot 53 of the elbow 52, and a lower piece 57, the extremity of which has an outwardly projecting flange 58 and an inwardly projecting pin 59, the latter adapted to move in and be guided by a key hole slot 60 in a bracket 61 secured to one of the members 3 by screws 62, or in any other suitable manner. The lower piece 57 is slotted and by means of screws 63 may be adjusted relative to the vupper piece 55 to vary the effective length of the entire link 54.

Mounted on the main shaft 33 is a segment plate 64 (which has other functions in connection with the operation of the machine immaterial to the present invention) and which has a foot 65, the lower edge. 66 of which is in theplane of the projection 58' on the link 54, so that when the parts are at rest, the edge 66 will contact with the projection 58 and hold the link 54, and consequently the locking plate 40, in such posi-. tion, opposed to the tension of the spring 46, that the stops 9 may freely be moved through the slots 43 of the locking plate 40 and be elevated and depressed in the same manner as thoughthe plate 40 were not in the machine.

The link 26 is provided with a bracket 70 suitable means. In this bracket is mounted to rotate a roller 72 adapted to cotiperate with the curved cam edge 41 of the locking plate 40, so that when the link 26 is moved rearwardly, as has been" above described, the roller 72 will en age the surface 41 and bodily move the p ate 40 against the tension of the spring 46 to restore the plate to its original position after therefrom.

Each stop 9 is provided with two notches 90 and91, both on that side of the stop op posite the lobe 18. When the keys havenot been depressed, and all of the stops 9 are in. their lowermost position, all of the it has been moved notches 90,w ill .be 'in the same horizontal plane as the'comm'on locking plate '4O and so that the transverse movement of the common locking plate 40 will engage either the notches 90 or the notches 91 of all the stops ineach denominational series and thus Will lock these stops and consequently the keys "against movement so long as the common plate is maintained in the position to which it has been moved.

Normally the parts which form the subject matter of the invention are the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In this condition of the parts, the link 54 has been moved to its lowermost position by the contact of its flange 58 with the lower edge 66 of the segment lever 65. This in turn has oscillated the lever 49 which has moved the common locking plate 40 against the tension of its spring 46 until the locking plate is in such a position that the stops 9 are each free to move through the several slots 43 and the stops can'he elevated or depressed by the action of the keys.

Supposing, now, that an item, for instance, the item 67 has been enumerated upon the key board by depressing the key 6 in the tens column and the key 7 in the units column. This will elevate the corresponding stops and bring their notches 91 in line with the edges of the recesses 43 of the plate 40. Now, if the main'shaft of the machine is actuated, as soon as it begins to oscillate, the segment plate 65 is lifted and its lower edge 66 ceases to contact with the flange 58 of the link 54. This permits the tension of the spring 46 to slide the common locking plate on the transverserods 44 and move the edges of the several slots 43 so that the plate will en age with the notches 9lof the two stops which have been moved and with the notches 90, of all of the remaining stops which. have not been moved. Consequently so long as this engagement exists, no key on the-Ikey board and no stop of the several denominational series can be moved. Toward the end of the reverse oscillation of the main shaft, as the link 26 is moved rearwardly by the rolle'r31 coming into contact with the edge 30 of the link the roller 72 is moved horizontally in the samegeneral direction and, comingf-in contact with'the cam edge 41 of the locking plate-40, positively moves this locking plate, restretching the spring 46,

until (the locking plate has attained its original unlocking position. This function plate 65 is restored to its original position a at the end of the reverse oscillation of the main shaft, its edge 66 again cooperates with the flange 58 of the link 54: and holds the latter positively in place to keep the locking plate 40 in an inoperative position.

What we claim as new is 1. In a calculating machine, comprising amain shaft, numeral keys arranged in denominational series and stops, one for each key adapted to be moved to and-from an operative position; a common lock for all, of the stops and means operated from the main shaft of the machine adapted automatically simultaneously to look all of the stops at the beginning of the actuation of the main shaft.

2'. In a calculating machine, comprising a main shaft, numeral keys arranged in denominationalseries and stops, one for each key adapted to be moved to and from an operative position; a common lock for all of the stops and means operated from the main shaft of the machine adapted auto-- matically simultaneously to look all of the stops at the beginning of the actuation of the main shaft, in combination with means also. operated from the main shaft adapted automatically simultaneously to unlock all ofthe sto s at the end of the actuation of the main s aft.

3. In a calculatingniachine, comprising a main shaft, numeral keys arranged in denominational series and stops, one'for each key adapted to be moved to and fro-m an operative position by the numeral keys; means adapted simultaneously to lock. all of the stops at the beginning of the actuation of the main shaft, comprising a common locking plate adapted to. engage with all of the stops, means constantly tendingto bring about such engagement, and positive means adapted to prevent such engagement until the main shaft has been moved.

4. In a calculating machine, comprising a main shaft, numeral 'keys arranged in denominational series and stops," one for each key adapted to be moved to and from an operative position by the numeral keys; means adapted simultaneously to lock all of the stops at the beginning ofthe actuation of the main shaft, comprising a locking plate adapted to engage with all of the" stops, means including a spring constantly tending to bring about such engagement, and positive means. including a link, adapted to prevent such engagement until the main shaft has been moved.

5. In a machine of the character dein each of-two positions,

scribed, including stops arranged in denominational series, a common locking plate adapted to engage all of the stops in each of two positions to which they may be moved.

6. In a machine of the character described, including stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage all of the stops in each of two positions to which they may be moved and means normally preventing said engagement, comprising a lever and a link cooperating therewith,

in combination with the main shaft of the machine and .a member moved thereby adapted to hold the link in position until the main shaft has .been moved.

7. In a machine of the character described, including a main shaft stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage all of the stops in each of two positions to which they may be moved and means normally preventing said engagement actuated from the main shaft of the machine.

8. In a machine of the character described, including a main shaft stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage all of the stops in each of two positions to which they may be moved and means normally preventing said engagement until the main shaft of the machine has been moved.

9. In a machine of the character described, including. a main shaft stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage all of the stops in each of two positions be moved, in combination with means adapted constantly to bring about such engagement, means adapted to hold the plate out of such engagement at one position of the main shaft and means adapted to restore the plate to its original position after such engagement.

10. In a machine of the character described, including -a main shaft stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage all of the stops to which they may be moved, in combination with means adapted constantly to bring about such engagement, including a spring, means adapted to hold the plate out of such engagement, in cluding a crank on the main shaft, and a connection between the plate and the crank and means adapted to restore the plate to its original position after. such engagement, including a reciprocating bar and a connection between it and the plate.

-11; In a machine of the character described, stops arranged in denominational series, each stop having notches coincident respectively with their operative and inoperative positions, in combination with a sliding plate provided with slots through to which they may which the stops may move and the edges of which slots are adapted to engage either notchof all of the stops whereby the stops may all be engaged in either position.

l2. In a machine of the character described a main shaft, stops arranged indenomination-a1 series, a locking plate adapted to engage the stops in either of two positions, and means constantly tending to move the plate to an engaging position, in combination with means adapted normally to prevent such engagement, including a lever whereby the plate is moved, a link for moving the lever and means for holding the link by a connection between it and the main shaft of the machine.

13. In a machine of the character de scribed a main shaft, sto s arranged in de-' nominational series, a 100 ring plate adapted to engage the stops of either of two positions, and means constantly tending to move the plate to an engaging position, in combination with means adapted normally to prevent such engagement,- including a lever whereby the plate is moved, a link for moving the lever, andmeans for holding the link to a connection between it and the main shaft of the machine and means for varying the effective length of the link.

14; In a machine of the character de scribed, stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage the stops in either of two positions, means constantly tending to move the plate to an engaging position, in combination with 'means adapted normally to prevent such engagement and further means adaptedpositively to move it from an engaging to a tdisengaging position.

15. In a machine of the character described, stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage the stops in either of two posit-ions,'means constantly tending to move the plate to an engaging position, in combination with means adapted normally to prevent such engagementand further means adapted positively to move it from an engaging to a disengaging position, consisting of a push bar, a sliding connection between it and the locking plate and means for moving the push bar near the end of the main shaft.

16. In a machine} of the character described a main shaft, stopsi arranged .in denominational series, a locking. plate [adapted to engage the stops in either of two posirearward stroke of the tions, means constantly tending to move the.

plate to "an engaging position, in combination with means adapted normally to prevent such engagement and further means.

adapted positively to move it from an engaging toa disengaging position, consisting of a push bar, a roller mounted thereon, a cam surfaceon the locking plate with which the roller is adapted to engage and means for moving the push bar near the end of the rearward stroke of the main shaft.

17. In a machine of the character described a. main shaft, stops arranged in additional series, a locking plate adapted to engage the stops in either of two positions, means constantly tending to move the plate to an engaging position, in combination'with means adapted normally to prevent such engagernent and further means adapted posi-' tively to move it from an engaging to a disengaging position, consisting of a push bar, a sliding connection between it and the looking plate and means for moving the push bar near the end of the rearward stroke of the main shaft, including a crank on the main shaft adapted to engage the push bar only at such part of the rearward stroke and to pass by it at other times. i

18. In a machine of the character described a main shaft, stops arranged in denominational series, a locking plate adapted to engage the stops in either of two positions, means constantly tending to move the plate to an engaging position, in combina-' tion with means adapted normally to prevent such engagement and further means adapted positively to move'it from an engaging to a disengaging position, consisting of a push bar, a roller mounted thereon, a cam surface on the locking plate with which the roller is adapted to engage and means 'for moving the'push bar near the end of the rearward stroke of the main shaft, including a crank on themain shaft adapted to engage the push bar only at such part of the rearward stroke and to pass by it at other times.

'19. In a'machine of the character described, numeral keys arranged in denominationalseries, members, one for each key, moved as the keys are moved, a latch adapted to engage all of the key members of any one series, means on the members adapted to move the latch and means exerting a tension' on the latch whereby when one key of the series is depressed any depressed key 1s elevated, in combination with a common lock for all of the key members adapted simultaneously to lock them against movement whether they are depressed or elevated.

20; In a machine of the character described, numeral keys arrangedgin denominational series, members, one for each key,

moved as the keys are moved, a latch adapt ed to engage all of the key members of any one series, means on the members adapted to move the latch and means exerting a tension on the latch whereby when one key of the series is depressed any depressed key is elevated,-in7combination with a common lock for all of the key members adapted simultaneously to lock, them against movement Whetherthey are depressed or elevated, and

means tor automatically moving the lock to an operative position.

21. in a machine of the character described, numeral keys, arranged in denominational series, members, one for each'key, moved as the keys are moved, a latch adapted to engage all of the key members of any one series, means on the members adapted to move the latch and means exerting a tension o-n-the latch whereby when one key of the series is depressed any depressed key is eievated, in combination with acommon iock for all of the key memheisadapted simultaneously to iock them. against movement Whether they are depressed or elevated, and means for automatically moving the iock-to an operative position operated from the main shaft.

22. In a machine of the character described a main shaft, numeral keys arranged in denominational series, members, one for each key, arranged in denomlnationai senovanai ries, members, one for each key, moved as the keys are moved, a latch adapted to engage all of the key members of any one series, means on the members adapted to move the latch and means exerting -a tension on the latch whereby When one key of theseries is depressed any depressed key is elevated, in combination with a common lock for all of the key members adapted simultaneously to lock them against movement whether they are depressed or elevated, and means for automatically moving the, lock to an operative position operated from the main shaft at the beginning of its stroke.

Witness our hands this 18th day of March 1909," at 'Wilkes-Barre, Penna.

JQHN PIRRQNG HENRY KUNTZLER,

Witnesses":

CHARLES STUART Machine, Ennns'r MILLER Dn'rnrcnt. 

